7 days in Mauritius: lagoons, inland and hidden beaches

Day by day

1. 1

   Day 1

   Arrival at SSR Airport — settling on the west coast

   Land at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (SSR) International Airport, on the island's south-east coast. First move: collect the rental car at the terminal counter (€25-35/day, left-hand drive like the UK — budget 30 minutes to adjust). A taxi from the airport to Flic-en-Flac runs about MUR 1,000-1,200 (€22-26) for a 45-55-min drive; with luggage and a group, the rental car pays for itself on day one.

   Check in at Flic-en-Flac or Tamarin — the two ideal bases for the west coast. Flic-en-Flac has a wider choice of hotels (€80-200/night depending on category) and a long white-sand beach sheltered by a lagoon. Tamarin is more of a village, quieter, popular with expats and surfers. Tonight, keep dinner simple to let your body adjust to the +3h (winter) or +2h (summer) time difference from Paris: Le Coco Beach in Flic-en-Flac (grilled fish, MUR 500-800 per person) or a local Creole snack bar.

   Don't try to sightsee today: the drive from the airport in unfamiliar traffic, the heat, and an 11-hour flight from Paris make a risky cocktail. Real Mauritius starts tomorrow morning.

   Tips

   • · Airport taxi → Flic-en-Flac: around MUR 1,000-1,200 (€22-26) — agree the price before getting in, meters are rare.
   • · Car rental: €25-35/day at Europcar, Budget or a local operator like Sixt Mauritius — book before departure for best availability.
2. 2

   Day 2

   West coast beaches — dawn dolphins, Tamarin, Black River

   Wake at 5:30am to reach the Tamarin dolphin spot before the first tourist boats. Spinner and bottlenose dolphin pods frequent Tamarin Bay in the morning; several local operators offer boat trips for around MUR 800-1,200 (€17-26) per person from Tamarin harbour. Choose boats that cut the engine near the dolphins — it's the ethical rule and the animals stick around longer. Back on shore by 9am.

   After the sea trip: Tamarin beach for a late breakfast (local bakeries, MUR 200-350). Then drive north along the coast: La Preneuse, Rivière Noire (Black River) and its fishing boats. Black River is the starting point for the gorge hike (Day 4) but today just enjoy the beach and village. Lunch at La Bonne Chute on Chamarel Road (Creole food, fish curry, MUR 600-900) or Le Café des Arts in Tamarin (art café vibe, salads and Franco-Creole dishes, MUR 700-1,100).

   Afternoon: back to Flic-en-Flac for snorkelling in the lagoon — coral reefs 100-200m from the beach, parrotfish, starfish. Sunset from Flic-en-Flac beach, facing due west over the Indian Ocean: one of the island's finest sunsets.

   Tips

   • · Dolphin trips: leave before 6:30am to avoid boat overcrowding — after 9am the dolphins dive and disappear.
   • · Reef-safe sunscreen only in the lagoon: oxybenzone formulas have been banned in Mauritius since 2020 and damage coral.
3. 3

   Day 3

   South-west: Le Morne, Chamarel and the Rum Distillery

   The most packed day of the itinerary. Depart at 8am for Le Morne Brabant, the south-west peninsula listed as a UNESCO site: a dazzling white beach facing a turquoise lagoon protected by a barrier reef. Le Morne is also the historical symbol of Maroon slave resistance — panels at the foot of the rock tell the story with quiet dignity. Morning swim in the lagoon (free access), plus options for kitesurfing or windsurfing (world-class spot, €50-80 for a 2h session).

   Drive to Chamarel, 20 minutes inland. First stop: the Seven Coloured Earths (entry: approx MUR 300 / €6.50) — volcanic earth dunes in shades of red, violet, green, brown and yellow, a geological feature unique to Mauritius. The site is touristy but the spectacle is still striking early in the day. Second stop right next door: Chamarel Waterfall (MUR 250 / €5.50), a 100m drop into tropical forest, viewed from a belvedere. Both sites are adjacent, combined ticket available.

   Lunch at the panoramic restaurant of the Rhumerie de Chamarel (MUR 950-1,400, Creole fusion cuisine, views over the west coast and Le Morne) — with a complimentary tasting of infused rums. Return to the west coast in late afternoon for sunset.

   Tips

   • · Seven Coloured Earths: arrive before 9am — the low morning light intensifies the colours; after 11am, tourist buses make the visit unpleasant.
   • · Rhumerie de Chamarel: the complimentary tasting with lunch covers 3-4 infused rums — book online 48h ahead in high season (May-November).
4. 4

   Day 4

   Black River Gorges and Grand Bassin

   A day for nature and spirituality in the island's interior. Depart at 7:30am from Flic-en-Flac for Black River Gorges National Park (free entry), Mauritius's only large wilderness area with its 6,700 hectares of endemic tropical forest. Recommended trail: Gorges Viewpoint → Chamarel Trail (4-5h, moderate difficulty, altitude 400-500m), with plunging views over the Chamarel waterfall and the south-west coast. Bring 2L of water and wear closed shoes — trails can be muddy.

   Midday, descend to Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao), a volcanic crater lake at 1,800m altitude and the sacred site of Mauritian Hinduism. Pilgrims come here to collect holy water during the Maha Shivaratri festival (January-February), but the site is open year-round. Around the lake: colourful temples, statues of Shiva and Lakshmi, a serene atmosphere far from mass tourism. Smart dress required (shoulders and knees covered), free entry.

   Quick lunch in Curepipe on the way (an inland market town, excellent dholl puri for MUR 50-80 a portion). Optional stop at Trou aux Cerfs, a dormant volcanic crater in the heart of Curepipe, for a 360° view over the island. Option to overnight in the interior or return to the west coast before crossing to the east coast tomorrow.

   Tips

   • · Black River Gorges: avoid rainy days — trails become slippery and visibility drops to zero. Check the forecast the evening before.
   • · Grand Bassin: no food or alcohol sold around the lake — bring a snack and respect the silence in prayer areas.
5. 5

   Day 5

   Transfer to the east coast — Belle Mare and Île aux Cerfs

   Morning: cross the island by car from the west coast to Belle Mare on the east coast (1h-1h15 via the M1 motorway and A7 road). Changing scenery: sugarcane fields as far as the eye can see, Creole villages, small roadside markets. Check in at a hotel or guesthouse in Belle Mare or Trou d'Eau Douce — the east coast is windier (trade winds), ideal for kitesurfing, with a deeper lagoon and even more turquoise water than the west. Hotel budget: €100-250/night depending on category.

   Afternoon: excursion to Île aux Cerfs, Mauritius's most visited islet, reached by boat from Trou d'Eau Douce (MUR 600-800 / €13-17 return, departures every 30 minutes). Milky-blue lagoon, fine white sand, shallow water — perfect for swimming and snorkelling. The island gets busy in high season but manageable on weekdays. Bring a packed lunch from Trou d'Eau Douce: the island's restaurants are expensive (MUR 1,200-2,000) and underwhelming.

   Dinner back on the east coast — La Spiaggia in Belle Mare (Italian-Creole cuisine, wood-fired pizzas and fresh fish, MUR 800-1,200) or a roadside snack bar for chicken curry (MUR 200-350).

   Tips

   • · Île aux Cerfs: go on a weekday if possible — weekends see Mauritians gathering in family groups and the main beach gets very lively (music, barbecues).
   • · Boats Trou d'Eau Douce → Île aux Cerfs: MUR 600-800 return per person; agree a precise return time with the boatman to avoid waiting.
6. 6

   Day 6

   North coast — Grand Baie, Cap Malheureux, Trou aux Biches

   Last big driving day. From the east coast, head north via Port-Louis (the capital — drive through without stopping unless you have time for the central market: MUR 200-400 for a bag of exotic fruit) to Grand Baie, the island's liveliest beach resort. Grand Baie means duty-free shops, international restaurants, sea excursions — useful for last-minute shopping or currency exchange (€1 ≈ MUR 47-49 at a local bureau de change, always a better rate than at the airport).

   Then head to Cap Malheureux, the island's northern tip: a small red-roofed church at the water's edge, one of the most photographed in Mauritius, and an unobstructed view of the islet Coin de Mire. A peaceful village feel, far from Grand Baie's bustle. Simple lunch at Cap Malheureux or on the way back.

   Afternoon: Trou aux Biches, considered by many to be the finest beach in the north — clear water, white sand, a flat, safe lagoon. Swim, snorkel or simply nap on the beach. Farewell dinner on the north coast or a quiet drive back to the east coast hotel for the last night before departure.

   Tips

   • · Currency exchange: €1 ≈ MUR 47-49 at Grand Baie bureaux de change — significantly better than SSR Airport (42-44 MUR). Change before heading back.
   • · Cap Malheureux: the Notre-Dame-Auxiliatrice church is an active place of worship — do not enter during Sunday morning services.
7. 7

   Day 7

   Pamplemousses Garden → SSR Airport → departure

   Last Mauritian morning — quiet and simple. Drive from the north or east coast to the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden at Pamplemousses, one of the oldest botanical gardens in the southern hemisphere (founded in 1735). Free entry (donation welcome). Garden highlights: the giant Victoria amazonica water lilies in the ponds, talipot palms, nutmeg trees and century-old jackfruit trees. Allow 1h to 1h30 for a leisurely morning visit — shade is welcome and tour groups arrive after 10am.

   Leave Pamplemousses by 10-10:30am for SSR Airport (45-55 min from Pamplemousses, allow slightly more in traffic near Port-Louis). Return the car at the terminal counter — make sure to return it with a full tank (BP or Total station in the airport perimeter) and check the bodywork with the agent. Check-in recommended 2h30 before departure for intercontinental flights.

   Last souvenir ideas: infused rum from the Rhumerie de Chamarel, local spices (vanilla, cinnamon, turmeric) from Pamplemousses market, or vacoas straw mats from roadside artisans. SSR duty-free shops are decent but more expensive than local markets.

   Tips

   • · Pamplemousses Garden: arrive before 9am for the Victoria amazonica lilies — they close up in mid-morning heat.
   • · Car return: fill up at the BP station 2km from the airport (fuel ~MUR 65/L) to avoid the inflated rate charged by the rental company for an empty tank.

Other durations

Frequently asked questions